Champion league matches

The report also found that teams winning groups were finishing with more points than 15 years ago and teams coming bottom with less - all pointing to an increase in the gap between the elite clubs and the rest. “The different indicators analysed illustrate a clear trend towards less balance and more predictability,” said the Swiss-based CIES (International Centre for Sports Studies) Football Observatory. The study found that the number of “very unbalanced matches”, where one team wins by three goals or more, had increased from 16.9 percent of group matches between 2003 and 2006 to 22.9 percent between 2015 and 2018. During the same period, the average number of points won by the eventual group winners rose from 2.11 to 2.26 per game, while the goal difference of the group-winning teams rose from 6.38 after the six matches to 8.91. Meanwhile, the average points-per-game of the teams finishing bottom of the groups fell from 0.59 to 0.45 and their final goal … [Read more...] about Champions League matches more one-sided now: report

Liverpool knew that a 1-0 win, or a victory by two goals or more, would be enough to seal a top two spot in Group C, and Salah was again the hero for the hosts, scoring what proved to be the winner in the 34th minute. Napoli pressed for a leveller in the second half, with Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson denying Arkadiusz Milik in stoppage time, but the home side's resolute defence - which has conceded just six Premier League goals all season so far - stood firm. Paris St Germain's 4-1 victory at Red Star Belgrade meant they finished top with 11 points while Napoli, who started the day leading the way, exited the competition as Liverpool snatched second spot on goals scored after both teams finished with nine points. Jurgen Klopp stuck with the midfield three that struggled against PSG in their last Champions League match and it was Napoli who found their rhythm first, creating some promising openings early on. Salah was then presented with a glorious opportunity to break the deadlock, but … [Read more...] about Salah fires Liverpool into Champions League last 16

LONDON: Xherdan Shaqiri has been left out of Liverpool's travelling squad for Tuesday's (Nov 6) Champions League match against Red Star Belgrade, the Premier League club have announced. Xherdan Shaqiri is not travelling with Liverpool for their Champions League match against Red Star Belgrade. (Photo: AFP/Paul Ellis) The midfielder was at the centre of controversy along with Switzerland teammate Granit Xhaka when they celebrated goals with a pro-Kosovo "double eagle" gesture that represents the Albanian flag during the World Cup win over Serbia in Russia. The double-eagle is viewed as a symbol of defiance in Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008 in a move that Serbia still refuses to recognise. The players' double eagle celebration caused outrage in Serbia and Arsenal midfielder Xhaka and Shaqiri, both of Kosovan-Albanian descent, were fined by FIFA. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said on the club's website on Monday: "It's a situation where we will go to the fantastic … [Read more...] about Liverpool omit Shaqiri for Champions League trip over political tensions

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola watches his team's Champions League match against Lyon from the stands at the Etihad stadium AFP/Oli SCARFF Pep Guardiola's richly talented team are among the favourites to be crowned kings of Europe after racking up 100 points in the Premier League last season. Yet their limp 2-1 loss to Lyon on Wednesday (Sep 20), played out in front of swathes of empty seats in Manchester, prompts the nagging question of when the fans and the players will come to terms with the demands of the Champions League. Guardiola's absence from the touchline and dressing room at half-time due to suspension was highlighted as one of the factors for City's loss. But whatever excuses are made, the stark reality is that they are the first English club to lose four straight games in the competition - three of them at home. While other contenders such as Liverpool, Real Madrid or Juventus can count on the home advantage of a fervent atmosphere on a European night, the … [Read more...] about Man City struggling to find Champions League magic

* The torch for the 18th Asian Games reached Indonesia's capital Jakarta on Wednesday (Aug 15), ending a month-long journey across the Southeast Asian archipelago nation. * New Zealand Cricket appointed former Test batsman Gary Stead as the new Black Caps coach on Wednesday (Aug 15), with pundits describing him as a steady pair of hands to replace predecessor Mike Hesson. * Argentina captain Lionel Messi has ruled himself out of two friendlies in the United States next month, a source at the Argentine Football Association (AFA) told Reuters on Wednesday. * Nigeria's Victor Moses has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 27 in order to focus on his club career. Chelsea wing-back Moses made 37 appearances for Nigeria. * British tennis chiefs said on Wednesday (Aug 15) they will vote against the controversial reforms planned for the Davis Cup, claiming the radical changes could see fewer players taking part and a waning of fan interest. * Lionel Messi affirmed … [Read more...] about Facebook to broadcast some Champions League matches in Latin America